Cellular container for article shipping and storage



D. H. BLATT ETAL CELLULAR CONTAINER FOR ARTICLE SHIPPING AND STORAGEl Filed April l2, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 lsb IN VEN TORS Heeic R. Maan Q/l A f-fo r rl es ABY April 7, 1953 Filed April 12, 1949 D.`H. BLATT ET AL CELLULAR CONTAINER FOR ARTICLE SHIPPING AND vSTORAGE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VEN TORS .DariJBla-l- By f'redl'l'e R Mann @/WMM A++ornej April 7 1953 D. H. BLATT ETAL 2,634,042

l CELLULAR CONTAINER FOR ARTICLE SHIPPING AND STORAGE Filed April 12, 1949 s sheets-sheet s INVENToRs arq'd/Blali Patented pr. 7, 1953 CELLULAR CONTAINER FOR ARTICLE SHIPPING AND STORAGE David H. Blatt and Fredric R. Mann, Philadelphia, Pa.

nApplitrzation April 12, 1949, Serial No. 86,894 7 claims. (o1. 22a-2s) i vention is to produce a cellular container from a single blank of corrugated paper board which is so `scored and cut as to enable the blank to be readily expanded into the shape of a cellular cartonwith the several dividing partitions thereof so interlocked as to renderv the carton self -sustaining in shape and exceedingly strong and durablein Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear'rnore fully hereinafter, it being understood that theinvention consists substantially in the combination, construction and relative arrangement of parts all as will` be described in detail hereinafter, as shown in the accompanying drawings and as nally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank of whichthe cellular carton of the present invention is formed;

`Figure 2 is a perspective'view showing the carton' invertedand partially expanded into shape;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the inverted carton in an advanced stage of being exg panded into its final shape;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the cellular carton in its nally expandedl shape;

Figure 5 is a perspective View of the outer shell or container in which a plurality of the cellular cartons of the present invention may be stacked;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of the shipping and storage unit consisting of the outer container and its internally stacked cellular cartons as taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;`

Figure 7 is a plan view showing the blank of Figure 1 folded and taped into flat form-convenient for shipping and storage thereof.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figure 1 thereof, it will be observed that the cellular carton of the present invention is formed of a single blankV I0 of suitable sheet material, such as corrugated paper board or the like which is` longitudinally i and transversely scored along .the dotted lines, as shown, to provide a plurality "of relatively foldable sections, the blank being V'additionally cut or slit along predetermined lines, asshown', to further facilitate relative folding and interlocking of the self-sustaining `carton II of the form shown in Figure 4 having a plurality of separate article receiving compartments I2, each of these compartments being closed on all but the top side thereof. The particular form of cellular carton as produced from the blank I6 of Figure 1 and as shown in Figure 4 is provided with six of the open topped cells or compartments I2 arranged in two rows of three each with each compartment being of generallysquare shape. It will be understood, however, that the carton and the several cells or compartments thereof may be varied in their general dimension and shape by suitable modication of the carton forming blank I6, all without departing from the principles of the present invention as lwill now be described in detail.

The blank I6 is transversely scored along the parallel score lines. I3, kI4 and I5 to provide it with four relatively foldable main panel sections respectively designated I6, |1, I8 and I9. The panel sections I6, I1, I8 and I 9 are partially separated by transversely extending cuts or slits 20, 2| and 22 which are `respectively inv straight line continuation of the` transverse score lines I3, I4 and I5.

The several main panel sections I6, I1, I8 and I9 are respectively scoredalong the lines 23, 24,

`26 and 26 and` also along the lines 21, 28, 29 and 36, in consequence of which each of said sections is provided with a plurality of relatively foldable portions. Thus, the main section I6 includes the relatively foldable portions I6, I6b and IBC; section I1 includes` the relatively foldable portions 11a, I1b and I1; the section I8 includes the relatively foldable portions l8a, IBb and I8c; while the section I9 includes relatively foldable portions Ita, Illb and ISC.

The portion I1c is transversely scored along the lines 3l and 32 and slit `as at 33, 34', 35 and 36 to thereby provide said section I1 with a central flap 31 disposed between a pair of oppositely disposed flaps 38-38. These latter flaps 38-38 are respectively provided with wing elements :lita-38a which are foldable about the score lines 3l and 32 flatwise against they iiaps 38-38.

The portion I6c of the main section I6 is likewise scored along the lines 39, and 46 and cut along the lines 4 I, 42, 43 and 44 to provide it with a central ilap 45 disposed between a pair of iiaps 46-46, each of which latter is provided with a foldable `wing element 46a Aadapted to be folded atwise against its supporting flap 46.

The intermediate portion ISb of the section i6 ofthe blank is provided with` aiectangular slot 41,

while the intermediate portion |81 of the blank section I8 is similarly provided with a rectangular slot 48.

To form the cellular carton of the blank shown in Figure l, the opposite ends of the blank are secured together by a tape 49 equal in length to the uniform 'depth of the portions |811, |15, I8a and |911'of the blank. The tape thus secures together only the free ends of the portions I8a and |911, as best shown in Figures 2, 3 and '7. For convenience in the shipment and storage of the carton-forming blank it is doubled upon itself about the central fold line I4 and its opposite ends taped, as at 49, to provide a substantially flat, compact unit which may be conveniently shipped and stored in any desiredquantities.

To expand the blank into the form of a selfsustaining carton, it 4is initially opened into quadrangular form with the main sections I1 and I9 disposed in parallel relation and the sections I6 and I8 also disposed in parallel relation but at right angles respectively to the secftions I1 and I9. In such initial condition of the blank, the sections I8 and I8 are respectively disposed in position to form the opposite end walls of the carton, while the sections I1 and I9 'are respectively disposed in position to form the 'opposite side walls thereof.

The portions |81 and |81 of the end wall sections are then turned inwardly relatively to the opposite Vend walls |61L and I8a of the carton to assume a substantially horizontal coplanar relation, following which the portions |81 and I8c Vare respectively folded about the score lines 21 and 29 to kassume vertical positions parallel to each other and to the end wall portions |61 and |85, the spacing between the inturned portions Ic and I8c and the end walls |81 and |81 Vof Vthe carton being substantially equal. In this latter respect, it will be noted that in order to insure such uniform spacing between the parallel portions |611, IBC, I8c and I8a of the carton, the portions |61D and |81 are each of a depth approximately equal to one-third the length of the carton side walls I1a and |91.

The next step in setting up the carton is to A.fold the-portions |11 and |91 of the side wall sections I1 and I9 inwardly into horizontally Aextending coplanar relation so as to present them in overlying relation with respect to the horizontally disposed portions |61 and |81. At

the same time, the central flaps 31 and 45 of the sections I1 and I9 are respectively projected intothe space formed between the vertically disposed parallelportions I6c and |86, simultaneously as the doubled flaps on either side of the aps 31 and 45 are respectively projected into and through the slots 41 and 48 of the horizontally disposed coplanar portions |61 and |81. It will be noted that these latter slots 41 and 48 are each of a length equal to the width of the doubled flaps 38---38a and 46-481 and also that each of these slots 41 and 48 is of a width sufiicient to permit the free projection therethrough of aV pair of the doubled aps. Thus, the slot 41 is of a length and width sufficient to permit the free projection therethrough of that pair of the doubled over flaps which respectively depend from the corresponding outer ends of the sections |11 and |91, ywhile the slot 48 is of a length and width sufficient to permit the free projection therethrough of that pair of the doubled over flaps which respectively depend from the opposite corresponding ends of the sections |11and |91.

In setting up the carton, the preferable procedure is to overlap rst one and then the other of the portions |11 and |91 with respect to the slotted portions |81 and I81, such operations being best illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. Thus, as shown in these iigures the portion |11 with' its depending flaps 31 and 38-38 is first interengaged with the portions |51 and |81 of the carton, after which the doubled over flaps 38-38 are respectively projected through the slots 41 and 48, while the central ilap 31 is projected into the space formed between the vertically disposed parallel Vportions I8c and IBC. Following the projection of the doubled over flaps 38-38 through the slots 41-48 so as to present the portion |111 of the carton in closely overlying relation with respect to the horizontally disposed portions |61 and |81 of the carton, the opposite portion |91 with its depending flaps 45 and 45-46 is similarly disposed in relation to the slotted portions |61 and |81 of the carton, in which latter case the doubled over flaps 48-46 are also respec- -tively projected into and through the slots 41 and 48, while the central flap 45 depending from the portion |91 is snugly received in the space formed between the vertically disposed parallel portions I8c and |80.

It will be understood, of course, that the horizontally disposed portions |91 and |81 'and their overlying portions |11 and |91 constitute the bottom wall of the cellular carton, while the vertically extending parallel portions IIc and I8c constitute transversely extending partition walls which divide the container into three separate compartments, these partitions extending in parallel relation to the end walls of the carton (see Figure li). The flaps 45 and 31 each projecting inwardlyinto the space formed between the partition walls A|151 and I8c are in flatwise engagement with one another to conjointly form a central separator for the intermediate compartment of the carton to thereby divide the said compartment into two article-receiving cells of substantially square outline.

Similarly, the flap 38 with its freely extending portion 38a and the ap 46 with its freely ex tending portion 45a conjointly constitute a separator for the compartment immediately adjoining the end wall Ita of the carton, while the gitudinally of the carton to conjointly form with the transverse partition members Itc and I8 a total of six article-receiving cells.

A most important feature of the present i11- -vention is the arrangement for interlocking the bottom wall portions |11and |91 to the longitudinally spaced transversely extending bottom wall portions |61 and I81iof the carton, to thereby provide an exceedingly rigid cellular carton which is self-sustaining in form and which is Yadapted to support a relatively heavy load of articles respectively disposedin the several cells of the carton. In respect to this interlocking feature, it will be noted that when the doubled over ap elements 38-381 and i6-'46a are projected through the slots 41 and 48 in the bottom wall portions |611 and |81 as above described, the

wing-elements `38?- and 4611 thereof are adapted to be swung into their outwardly extending positionls'as shown in'full line'in Figure 4, in which position the bottom ends f'thesewin'g elements Vupl in the form of a tube.

4rest u`pon the uncut or solid surfaces of the bottom wall portions I6b and lilb of the carton and so secure the outermost bottom panels I 1b and |91 flatwise `against the saidinner bottom wall portions llib and |811.

l Should it be desired to collapse the carton so that it may be folded into its attened condition,

"as shown in Figure 7, it is merely necessary to 'reversely swing the Wing elements 38e and 46%L flatwise against their respective'supporting flaps 38 and 4B, whereupon the doubled over flaps are adapted to be projected outwardly through the slots 41 and 48 and so break the interlock between the overlying bottomwallportions f the carton.

A The cellular carton of the present invention is particularly adapted as an inner-pack element of a shipping container unit such asis shown in Figures 5 and 6, which unit includes a pair of upper and lower box sections A and B respectivelyA adapted to be telescopically tted over the opposite ends of an inner piece or liner fold made The cellular cartons of the present invention are adapted to be stacked within'the shipping unit formed of the members A, Band C, in the particular illustration shown a total of such cartons being encased within "the shipping unit, the cartons being therein arranged in live tiers of three cartons each. Of

course, the carton dimensions may be varied asdesired to provide for any desired stacking arrangement thereof within an outer shipping casing.

` The cellular carton of the present invention is especially convenient for the packing, shipping and storing of yarn which is conventionally wound in truncated lconical form upon a suitable core to form what is known in the trade as a cone of yarn, such as cones being shown in dotted line representation in Figure 6. The several cells of the expanded carton of the present invention are each of a dimensional size to receive an indi-- vidual cone therein.

. In some cases it may be desirable to make provision for projection of the upper end of each cone core into the enlarged bottom end of the next adjoining cone core in each vertical line of the cones, thereby limiting lateral movement they vare respectively accommodated.v To this end, the bottom walls of the several carton cells lmay each be provided with a central aperture .50 through which may be projected the reduced uppertip of the core of that cone which is disposed in a cell immediately( below the particular aperture. l

The apertures Ell thus formed in the bottom wall of each cell of argiven carton may be provided for by initially forming the blank I0 (see Figure 1) with a series of cutout holes spaced as shown in the several sections l6b, Hb, [8b and ISbofthe blank. The section I6 is provided with a pair of apertures '50a and 50h, While the section lilo is similarly provided with a pair of apertures 50c and 50d. The section 11b is in turn provided with three such apertures 50e, 50f and 50, while the section 19h isalso provided with three apertures 50h, 50i and When-the carton is expanded into shape, as. shown in Figure 4, the aperturesb and 50e register with one anotherfto form a through-hole4 for one endV cell of the carton, while the apertures 50a and 501 similarly registerto provide a through-hole for the adjoining end cell. of the carton. Similarly, the aperturesg and Sillc register to form a throughor tilting of the cones in the carton cells in which ton,4 while the apertures 50d andllh register'to .form a through-hole for the adjoining end cell. The apertures 50f and 50i in themselves respectively form the central holes of the intermediate pair of the carton cells. Y

It will be understood, of course, that the present invention is 'susceptibleiof various changes vand modifications whichy may be made from time .to time without departing from the general principles or real spirit thereof, and it is` accordingly intended to `claim the same broadly, as well as specifically, as indicated by the appended claims.

' What is claimed as new and useful is: Y

1. In a structure of the character described, a single blankof sheet material cut, scored and folded to form an open-topped cellular shipping and storage container, ,said blank being characterized in that itincludesa plurality of relatively foldable adjoining sections respectively constituting the perimetric side walls of the carton, a plurality of sections respectively attached to said sidewall-forming sections and adapted to befolded relatively thereto to form the bottom wall `of the carton, one pair of said last-mentioned sections being arranged for coplanarA dispositionlengthwise along opposite `sides ofthe 4carton and another pair thereof being arrangedfor coplanar disposition widthwise acrossopposite ends of the carton and in overlying relation with respect to said first-mentioned pair of the bottom-wallforming sections, said widthwise-disposed pair of the bottom-wall-forming sections being `.spaced from each other to provide a space therebetween in the central region ofthe carton, anda plurality of sections respectively attached to said bottom-wall-forming sectionsH and f adapted to be folded at right angles thereto to provide vertically disposed intersecting partition walls within the interior of the carton, one pair of said partition-wall-forming sections .being Yrespectively attached to said widthwise disposed pair of bottom-wall-forming sections Afor `disposition in spaced, parallel relation-to each other 'and the end walls of the carton, the partition-wall-forming sections attached to the lengthwise extending bottom-wall-forming sections each including a central flap element positionable vertically substantially in the longitudinally extending median lplane of the carton'and a pair of foldable iiap elements arranged to either side of said central flap element and extendable in unfolded condition into coplanar relation with respect to` said central flap element, said `foldable flap elements being each foldable uponitself for projection into and through a slot formed in a widthwise disposed bottom wallfsection of the carton prelirninarily to being unfolded internally of the carton to positively interlock together the-overlying bottom wall sections of the carton.

l 2. In a structure of the character described, a

single blank of sheet material cut, scored and hole for the cell ab the Opposite end of the carx :being arrangedffor respectivexdispos'ition lengthwise valong opposite sides .of the carton and the -other pair Ythereof being arranged lfor respective disposition widthwise across opposite ends of the carton and 'in overlying relation with respect to said first-mentioned pair, a plurality of partition sections attached to each of one pair of said bottom-forming sections and foldable at right angles to the latter to provide vertically disposed longitudinally extending partitions within the interior of the carton, and a single partition section attached to each of the second pair of said bottom-forming sections and foldable at right angles thereto to provide vertically disposed partitions within the interior of the carton extending transversely and in intersecting relation to the longitudinally eX- tending partition, certain of the sections forming the longitudinal partitions aforesaid being each provided with a Vwing portion foldable flatwise against its supporting section to form a doubled part of a width less than that of an adjoining VWidthwise extending bottom-forming section, each of the `latter sections being provided with a transverse opening therein of a width sufcient to permit the projection therethrough of one of said doubled parts.

3. In a structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said second-mentioned pair of widthwise extending bottom-wall-forming sections being spaced apart lengthwise of the carton.

4. In a structure as ,defined in claim 2 wherein the longitudinally extending partition-forming sections are adapted for disposition in juxtaposed, ilatwise engagement with each other to form a longitudinally extending double-thickness partition wall spaced centrally between and paralleling the longitudinally extending side walls of the carton.

5. In a structure of the character described, a single `blank of sheet material cut, scored and folded to form an open-topped 4cellular shipping and storage container, said blank being characteri'zed in that it includes a plurality of relatively foldable adjoining sections respectively constituting the perimetric side walls of the car.- ton, a plurality of sections respectively attached to said side-wall-forming sections and adapted to be folded relatively thereto to form the bottom wall of the carton, one pair of said last-mentioned sections bng arranged for coplanar disposition lengthwise along opposite sides f the carton and another --pairthereof being arranged for coplanar disposition widthwise across opposite ends of the carton and in overlying relation to said first-mentioned pair of the bottom-wall-forming sections, and a plurality of intersecting partition-forming sections respectively attached to the bottomforming sections, certain of said partition-forming sections being flatly foldable each upon itself for projection thereof through one pair of said bottom-forming Sections, said certain partitionforming sections `acting to positively interlock said bottomfforming vsections when unfolded after such projection.

6. In a structure of the character described, ,a single blank of sheet material cut, scored and folded to form an opentopped cellular shipping and storage container, :said blank being characterized in that it includes a plurality of relatively foldable adjoining sections `respectively constituting the perimetric side walls of the carton, a plurality of sections respectively attached to said side-Wall-forming sections and adapted to be folded relatively .thereto to form the `bottom .wall of the carton, one `pairzof said last-mentioned sections being-.arranged ffor coplanar `disposition lengthwise along opposite sides of the carton and another pair thereof being arranged for coplanar disposition widthwise across opposite ends of the carton and in overlying relation with respect to said first-mentioned pair of the bottom-Wallforming sections, and a plurality of intersecting partition-forming sections Vrespectively attached to the bottom-forming sections, said widthwisedisposed pair of the bottom-wall-forming sections being spaced from each other to -provide a space therebetween in the central region of the carton, and a plurality of intersecting partitionforming sections respectively attached to the bottom-forming sections, certain of the lpartitionforming sections being flatly foldable each upon itself for projection thereof through said 4widthwise extending Vbottom-forming sections, said certain partition-forming sections acting gto positively interlock said bottom-forming sections when unfolded after such projection.

7. In a structure of the character described, a single blank of sheet g-rnaterial cut, `scored and folded to form an open-topped cellular shipping and storage container, said blank being characterized in that it includes a plurality `of relatively foldable adjoining vsections respectively constituting the perimetric side walls of the carton, a plurality of sections respectively attached to said side-wall-forming sections and adapted to be folded relatively thereto to form the bottom wall of the carton, one pair of said last-mentioned sections being arranged for coplanar disposition lengthwise along opposite sides of the carton and another` pair thereof being arranged for coplanar disposition widthwise across opposite ends of the carton and in overlying relation with respect to said first-mentioned pair of the bottom-wallforming sections, said widthwise-disposed pair of the bottom-wall-forming sections being spaced from each other to provide a space therebetween in the central region of the carton, and a plurality of sections respectively attached to said bottomwall-forming sections and adapted to be folded at right angles thereto to provide vertically disposed intersecting partition walls within the interior of the carton, one Vpair of said partitionwallforming sections being respectively attached to said widthwise disposed pair of bottom-wallforming sections for disposition in spaced, parallel relation to each other and the end walls of the carton, and a second pair of said partitionwall-forming sections each including foldable ap elements adapted to be folded upon themselves for projection through slots formed in the widthwise disposed pair of bottom-wall-forming sections of the carton and then unfolded internally of the carton to positively interlock each widthwise-disposed bottom-wall section with the lengthwise-disposed coplanar bottom-wall sections aforesaid.

DAVID H. BLATT. FREDRIC R. MANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES vPATENTS Number Name Date 64,653 Fitzki May 14, 1867 1,881,900 Oman et al. Oct. 1l, 1932 2,006,725 Unsinger July 2, 1935 2,450,941 Crane Oct. 12, 1948 

